Hoof/shoe attachment device

ABSTRACT

A hoof/shoe attachment device (10) attaching a shoe (14) for a hoofed animal to the animal&#39;s hoof without the use of nails. The shoe (14) and an adapter (12) are held together by a adaptor fastener (12C) such as rivets. The hoof/shoe attachment device (10) comprises materials that prevents the rivet heads from pulling through. At least two fabric layers (adaptor cloth retainer upper layer (12BA) and adaptor cloth retainer lower layer (12BB) are embedded in the adaptor (12). The adaptor cloth retainer upper layer (12BA) is made from an arimid fiber known for abrasion resistance. The adaptor cloth retainer lower layer (12BB) is made from fiberglass. The hoof/shoe attachment device (10) when bonded to a hoof (16) results in a long wearing nailess shoe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improvement in the attachment ofshoes suitable for use on hoofed animals. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to improvement of a fastening means attaching a pad toa shoe and then to the hoof with a combination of fibers (fiberglass,SPECTRA) attached to the hoof with acrylic adhesives.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous innovations for hoof/shoe attachment device have been providedin the prior art that are described as follows. Even though theseinnovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes towhich they address, they differ from the present invention ashereinafter contrasted.

In U.S. Pat No. 5,222,561, titled, Shoes and Pads for Horses, inventedby Richard A. Fisher, et. al., comprises a fabrication material used tomake horse shoes. The fabrication material has impregnated kinked wirestrands to make the shoes more resistant to wear. The same material isused in horse shoe pads.

The present invention differs from the above described patentedinvention for the following reasons the present invention is an naillessattachment means which would utilize a shoe as described in the patentedinvention. The present invention is a method of attaching a pad and shoeto a horse or other hoofed animal.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,250, titled, Horse Shoe Pad, invented by Kent A.Vasto comprises a horse shoe pad formed of shock absorbing materials inone layer and another layer comprising a stabilizing material such asfabric. The shock absorbing layer is made of a dense non-cellularpolyurethane of linear structure. The fabric layer may be woven nylon.The pad is inserted between the hoof and the horse shoe at the time ofshoeing. The shock absorbing layer is selected to match the shockloading predicted and measured.

The patented invention describes a cushioning device inserted betweenthe horse shoe and the hoof. It is secured in place by nailing orgluing. While the patented invention has stabilizing layers made of areenforcing fabric embedded within the pad, in the present invention,fabric is impregnated in the device to prevent the rivets from pullingthrough the pad material. The shoe is held to the pad by a fasteningmeans which goes through the fabric.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,422, titled Plastic Horse Shoe and Method ofApplying to Hoof, invented by Frank M. Clark, a shoe formed of syntheticresin material, such as an elastomer polyurethane plastic, that may becast to shape and size while being sufficiently flexible for closefitting to the hoof. The shoe exhibits resistance to wear and abrasioncomparable to iron and other metallic shoes. It includes calks andcleats that may be trimmed, protective flange for the front edge of thehoof, and a channel for lubricant beneficial to the hoof. A method andapparatus for applying the shoes without nailing is described. The shapeand size of the shoe can be adjusted by shortening a heel crossbar.

The patented invention describes a method of forming a shoe using a moldattached to a hoof. A synthetic resin material requiring curing isinserted into the mold. The invention further describes a method ofgluing the shoe to the hoof of the horse using materials such as ESTAIN(™) and PLIBOND (™) both from B. F. GOODRICH COMPANY (™). The shoe isheld to the hoof until the glue is cured by a specially designed clamptightened about the hoof. The present invention is a nailless shoeattachment means utilizing any style of shoe. The attachment is alsomade by gluing to the hoof as in the patented invention, but the methodis simpler. The present invention is an improved horse shoeincorporating a nailless attachment means. The present invention usesacrylic adhesives for the bonding the shoe to the hoof. The shoe, havingthe adapter attached, is tacked to the hoof with removable nails. Theextensions of synthetic cloth layers protruding beyond the shoe andadapter are wrapped upwardly around the hoof and impregnated with anacrylic adhesive. After the acrylic adhesive has set (6-10) minutes, thenails are removed.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,524,505, titled Thermally Cured Bonded Horse Shoe,invented by H. M. Ross is an apparatus and a method of bonding a shoe tothe hoof of a horse including a novel method of leveling the hoof priorto bonding the shoe. The apparatus comprises a clamping member andguiding device that is clamped to a hoof. The apparatus supports amotorized device that planes the bottom surface of the hoof. A seconddevice comprises a electrically heated and fluid cooled platen to fuse ashoe pre-coated with adhesive, to a hoof. An alternative device makesuse of a shoe filled with an exothermic metallic oxidation reductionreactant which needs no external source of power. The shoes are formedby hand prior to attachment and have positive traction means on theground side.

The patented invention is a method of forming and attaching a shoe tothe hoof of a horse in place. The patented invention utilizes a heatsetting adhesive deposited on a preformed shoe in one embodiment. Theshoe is bonded to the hoof with the application of heat. A secondembodiment utilizes a mold into which a thermoplastic material isinjected and bonded to the hoof utilizing an exothermic metallicoxidation reduction reactant. The present invention differs from thepatented invention in that the present invention uses any shoe rivetedto an adapter. The entire assembly is then attached to the hoofutilizing quick setting adhesives. The present invention uses acrylicadhesives for the bonding the shoe to the hoof. The shoe, having theadapter attached, is tacked to the hoof with removable nails. Theextensions of synthetic cloth layers protruding beyond the shoe andadapter are wrapped upwardly around the hoof and impregnated with anacrylic adhesive. After the acrylic adhesive has set (6-10) minutes, thenails are removed. The horse does not have to be immobilized during theprocedure.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,098, titled Shock-absorbing Horse-shoe with ThreeLayers, invented by Benedetto Di Giulio comprises a horse-shoe havingtwo aluminum layers sandwiching several layer of an elastic,shock-adsorbing material. The ground contact layer has recessedapertures so a fastening means head is recessed providing a flush groundcontact surface.

The present invention differs from the patented invention in that thepresent invention uses a shoe with a cushioning spacer held to the shoeby a fastening means that is prevented from eroding the cushioningspacer by a fabric material. The whole assembly is then fastened to thehoof by an adhesive means. The patented invention utilizes nails forattachment where the present invention uses adhesives and cloth.

Numerous innovations for hoof/shoe attachment device have been providedin the prior art that are adapted to be used. Even though theseinnovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes towhich they address, they would not be suitable for the purposes of thepresent invention as heretofore described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Shoes for hoofed animals are commonly made from metals such as steel oraluminum functioning to protect the hoof of an animal. The shoes aretypically nailed to the hoof. This process is difficult to perform andrequires an experienced person to accomplish it reliably. A small errorin installing the nails can result in laming the horse. Standard shoescannot be attached to the hoof without nails because adhesives are notavailable to bond metal to hoof material. Thus far, the best attachmentmeans has been to mechanically fasten an adapter to the shoe using anumber of fasteners penetrating the pad and the shoe. Experience hasshown that the non-resilient nature of the shoe and the compressibilityof the pad results in the heads of the fasteners eroding into the padthus loosening the shoe. The present invention prevents this action byinserting a material selected to be resistant to the erosion by thefastener into the pad.

The types of problems encountered in the prior art are the attachment ofthe shock absorbing spacer to the shoe and the attachment of the shockabsorbing spacer and shoe to the hoof. Because of dissimilar materialsand the loading at the shock absorbing spacer/shoe interface, adhesivescannot maintain a reliable long term bond. Mechanically attaching theshock absorbing spacer to the shoe has resulted in the mechanicalattachment means wearing through the shock absorbing spacer causing theshoe to separate from the assembly.

In the prior art, unsuccessful attempts to solve this problem wereattempted namely special shock absorbing spacer/shoe combinationrequiring special installation equipment. The present inventionpractically solves the problem utilizing a mechanical fastener to holdany shoe to an adapter. The entire assembly is then attached to the hoofutilizing quick setting, acrylic adhesives, for the bonding the shoe tothe hoof. The shoe, having the adapter attached, is tacked to the hoofwith removable nails. The extensions of synthetic cloth layersprotruding beyond the shoe and adapter are wrapped upwardly around thehoof and impregnated with an acrylic adhesive. After the acrylicadhesive has set (6-10) minutes, the nails are removed. The horse doesnot have to be immobilized during the procedure.

Innovations within the prior art are rapidly being exploited in the areaof race horse shoes that protect the horses from damage and are of lightweight materials.

The present invention produced unexpected results namely the breeding ofrace horses has resulted in a hoof structure with thinner walls offeringless material for holding nails. The thinner walls make it moredifficult to shoe a horse using conventual means because a slight errorin driving a nail will cause it to enter soft tissue making the horselame. The present invention solves this problem by utilizing an adhesiveto attach the shock absorbing spacer/shoe to the hoof.

A synergistic effect was produced utilizing the present invention due tothe fabric material of the present invention serves to provide a gripfor positioning the shoe onto the hoof of the horse without anyadditional equipment.

Another synergistic effect was produced because the cloth is attached instrips the present invention does not interfere with the normalphysiology of the hoof.

A further synergistic effect is achieved because the present inventioncan be applied to hoofs damaged by disease or having defects.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anadapter material with erosion resistant fabric that can be bonded to ananimal hoof.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide asimple, long lasting, easily attached shoe/adapter to hoofed animalsutilizing standard shoes.

In keeping with these objects, and with others which will becomeapparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides,briefly stated, in the fabric imbedded in the adapter preventing thehead of the attachment means, attaching a shoe to the adapter, fromeroding the adapter material.

When the hoof/shoe attachment device is designed in accordance with thepresent invention, a more reliable longer lasting device is realized.

A feature of the present invention is the horse does not have to beimmobilized with drugs during the procedure.

An additional feature of the present invention is the speed at which theprocess takes place, the present invention is suitable for field use.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, is that thebonding of the hoof/shoe attachment device to the hoof eliminates therisk of lameness when shoeing a horse due to nails entering soft tissuecausing injury to the animal.

Another feature of the present invention is that the hoof bottom can beprepared in the normal way used to apply standard shoes. The hoof bottomdoes not have to be specially prepared by grinding or machining.

The novel features which are considered characteristic for the inventionare set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however,both as to its construction and its method of operation, together withadditional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood fromthe following description of the specific embodiments when read andunderstood in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING

10--hoof/shoe attachment device (10)

12--adaptor (12)

12A--adaptor pad (12A)

12AA--adaptor pad aperture (12AA)

12AC--adaptor pad lower surface (12AC)

12BA--adaptor cloth retainer upper layer (12BA)

12BB--adaptor cloth retainer lower layer (12BB)

12BC--adaptor cloth retainer third layer (12BC)

12BD--adaptor cloth retainer fourth layer (12BD)

12BC--upper adaptor cloth retainer aperture (12BC')

12BD--lower adaptor cloth retainer aperture (12BD)

12C--adaptor fastening means (12C)

12CA--adaptor fastening means head (12CA)

12CB--adaptor fastening means shank (12CB)

12D--adaptor lower surface (12D)

12E--toe piece (12E)

12EA--upper toe piece (12EA)

12EAA--upper toe piece aperture (12EAA)

12EB--lower toe piece (12EB)

12EBA--lower toe piece aperture (12EBA)

14--shoe (14)

14A--shoe aperture (14A)

14B--shoe upper surface (14B)

14C--shoe lower surface (14C)

16--hoof (16)

16A--hoof bonding surface (16A)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a hoof/shoe attachment device.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the hoof/shoe attachment device showing anadaptor cloth retainer upper layer and an adaptor cloth retainer lowerlayer embedded in the hoof/shoe attachment device.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the hoof/shoe attachment device showing anadaptor cloth retainer upper layer, adaptor cloth retainer lower layer,adaptor cloth retainer third layer, and an adaptor cloth retainer fourthlayer embedded in the hoof/shoe attachment device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 which is an exploded view of a hoof/shoe attachmentdevice (10) exhibiting the following features: adaptor (12), adaptor pad(12A), adaptor pad aperture (12AA), adaptor pad bonding surface (12AB),adaptor cloth retainer upper layer (12BA), adaptor cloth retainer lowerlayer (12BB), adaptor cloth retainer bonding surface (12DC), adaptorcloth retainer aperture (12BD), adaptor fastening means (12C), adaptorfastening means head (12CA), adaptor fastening means shank (12CB),adaptor pad lower surface (12AC), adaptor lower surface (12D), toe piece(12E), upper toe piece (12EA), upper toe piece aperture (12EAA), lowertoe piece (12EB), lower toe piece aperture (12EBA), shoe (14), shoeaperture (14A), shoe upper surface (14B), shoe lower surface (14C), hoof(16), and hoof bonding surface (16A).

The hoof/shoe attachment device (10) comprises an adaptor (12). Theadaptor (12) further comprises an adaptor pad (12A), having an adaptorcloth retainer upper layer (12BA) and an adaptor cloth retainer lowerlayer (12BB) embedded therewithin in alternating layers of fiberglassand SPECTRA (™) which prevents the adaptor fastening means head (12CA)from wearing through the adaptor pad (12A).

The adaptor (12) is mechanically fastened to a shoe (14) by a pluralityof adaptor fastening means (12C) having an adaptor fastening means head(12CA) and an adaptor fastening means shank (12CB). The adaptorfastening means shank (12CB) is inserted through an upper adaptor clothretainer aperture (12BC') and a lower adaptor cloth retainer aperture(12BD) and then through an adaptor pad aperture (12AA) and finallythrough a shoe aperture (14A) until it protrudes beyond a shoe lowersurface (14C). The adaptor fastening means head (12CA) is pulled againstthe adaptor pad bonding surface (12AB) by clinching the adaptorfastening means (12C) against the shoe lower surface (14C). Theclinching securely fastens a shoe upper surface (14B) against an adaptorpad lower surface (12AC).

The hoof/shoe attachment device (10) is securely fastened to a hoof (16)by applying a bonding agent to a hoof bonding surface (16A) and theadaptor pad bonding surface (12AB). The bonding takes place by bring thehoof bonding surface (16A) and the adaptor pad bonding surface (12AB)together and tacking the assembly to the hoof using removable nails toposition and hold the hoof/shoe attachment device (10) in position untilthe bonding agent has cured. The adaptor cloth retainer upper layer(12BA,) the adaptor cloth retainer lower layer (12BB), upper toe piece(12EA), and lower toe piece (12EB), protrude outwardly from the adaptorpad (12). The protrusion of the adaptor cloth retainer upper layer(12BA), the adaptor cloth retainer lower layer (12BB), upper toe piece(12EA), and lower toe piece (12EB), outwardly from the adaptor pad (12A)are wrapped upwardly and around the hoof and wetted with bonding agent.After the bonding agent has cured the adaptor cloth retainer upper layer(12BA,) the adaptor cloth retainer lower layer (12BB), upper toe piece(12EA), and lower toe piece (12EB) securely attach the adapter to thehoof. The nails are then removed resulting in a nailess attachment ofthe hoof to the shoe.

The adaptor cloth retainer upper layer (12BA,) the adaptor clothretainer lower layer (12BB), upper toe piece (12EA), and lower toe piece(12EB) when bonded to the hoof do not restrict the normal physiology ofthe hoof. The hoof can expand normally. Further since the adhesive meanscures quickly the animal does not have to immobilized to attach thepresent invention.

The adaptor cloth retainer upper layer (12BA) the adaptor cloth retainerlower layer (12BB), upper toe piece (12EA), and lower toe piece (12EB)are constructed from a group of materials consisting of fiberglass,SPECTRA (™), petroleum distillates, plastic composites, and plastic.

Secondly referring to FIG. 2 which is a top view of the adaptor pad(12A) having the following features: adaptor pad (12A), adaptor clothretainer upper layer (12BA), adaptor cloth retainer lower layer (12BB)and adaptor fastening means (12C).

The adaptor pad (12A) comprises an adaptor cloth retainer upper layer(12BA) and adaptor cloth retainer lower layer (12BB). The adaptor clothretainer upper layer (12BA) and adaptor cloth retainer lower layer(12BB) are embedded within the adaptor pad (12A). The adaptor clothretainer upper layer (12BA) is made from a fiberglass cloth material.The adaptor cloth retainer lower layer (12BB) is made from a Spectra (™)cloth material. The adaptor fastening means (12C) securely attaches theadaptor pad (12A) to the shoe (14).

Secondly referring to FIG. 3 which is a top view of adaptor pad (12A)having the following features: adaptor pad (12A), adaptor pad bondingsurface (12AB), adaptor cloth retainer upper layer (12BA), adaptor clothretainer lower layer (12BB), adaptor cloth retainer third layer (12BC),adaptor cloth retainer fourth layer (12BD) adaptor fastening means (12C)upper toe piece (12EA) and lower toe piece (12EB).

The adaptor pad (12A) comprises an adaptor cloth retainer upper layer(12BA), adaptor cloth retainer lower layer (12BB), adaptor clothretainer third layer (12BC) and adaptor cloth retainer fourth layer(12BD). The adaptor cloth retainer upper layer (12BA), adaptor clothretainer lower layer (12BB), adaptor cloth retainer third layer (12BC),and adaptor cloth retainer fourth layer (12BD) are embedded within theadaptor pad (12A). The adaptor cloth retainer upper layer (12BA) is madefrom a fiberglass cloth material. The adaptor cloth retainer lower layer(12BB) is made from a SPECTRA (™) cloth material. The adaptor clothretainer third layer (12BC) is made from a fiberglass cloth material.The adaptor cloth retainer fourth layer (12BD) is made from a SPECTRA(™) cloth material. The adaptor fastening means (12C) securely attachesthe adaptor pad (12A) to the shoe (14).

The adaptor pad (12A) further comprises: an upper toe piece (12EA) and alower toe piece (12EB). The upper toe piece (12EA) and a lower toe piece(12EB) are embedded within the adaptor pad (12A). The upper toe piece(12EA) is made from a fiberglass cloth material. The lower toe piece(12EB) is made from a SPECTRA (™) cloth material.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find an useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the type described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in ahoof/shoe attachment device, it is not intended to be limited to thedetails shown, since it will be understood that various omissions,modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of thedevice illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled inthe art without departing in any way from the spirit of the presentinvention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A hoof/shoe attachment device (10) utilized to fasten a shoe(14) to a hoof (16) comprising:A) an adaptor (12) which comprises:i) anadaptor pad bonding surface (12A) having an adaptor bonding surfacewhich is securely fastenable to a hoof bonding surface (16A), ii) anadaptor cloth retainer upper layer (12BA) impregnated on opposite sidesinto the adaptor pad (12A), an exposed area o the adaptor cloth retainerupper layer (12BA) being bendable around an outside of the hoof (16) andsecurely fastenable thereto by adhesive, iii) an adaptor cloth retainerlower layer (12BB) impregnated on opposite sides into the adaptor pad(12A) and positioned below the adaptor cloth retainer upper layer(12BA), an exposed area of the adaptor cloth retainer lower layer (12BB)being bendable around an outside of the hoof (16) and securelyfastenable thereto by adhesive, B) a shoe (14) securely fastened to theadaptor (12) by an adaptor fastening means (12C).
 2. The hoof/shoeattachment device (10) as described in claim 1, wherein the adaptor pad(12A) comprises at least one adaptor pad aperture (12AA) through whichan adaptor fastening means shank (12CB) is passed therethrough securelyfastening the adaptor pad (12A) to a shoe upper surface (14B).
 3. Thehoof/shoe attachment device (10) as described in claim 1, wherein theadaptor pad (12A) further comprises a toe piece (12E) impregnated intothe adaptor pad (12A), an exposed area of the toe piece (12E) beingbendable around an outside of the hoof (16) and securely fastenablethereto by adhesive.
 4. The hoof/shoe attachment device (10) asdescribed in claim 3, wherein the toe piece (12E) is selected from agroup consisting of an upper toe piece (12EA) and a lower toe piece(12EB).
 5. The hoof/shoe attachment device (10) as described in claim 4,wherein the upper toe piece (12EA) has at least one upper toe pieceaperture (12EAA) therein and the lower toe piece (12EB) has at least onelower toe piece aperture (12EBA) therein, at least one adaptor fasteningmeans (12C), positioned through the at least one upper toe pieceaperture (12EAA) and the at least one lower toe piece aperture (12EBA)can secure the upper toe piece (12EA) and the lower toe piece (12EB),through at least one adaptor pad aperture (12AA) of the adaptor pad(12A), to the shoe (14).
 6. The hoof/shoe attachment device (10) asdescribed in claim 5, wherein the adaptor fastening means (12C)comprises an adaptor fastening means head (12CA) which is securelyfastened to one distal end of the adaptor fastening means shank (12CB),an opposite distal end of the adaptor fastening means shank (12CB) ispassed through the adaptor cloth retainer aperture (12BD), through theat least one adaptor pad aperture (12AA) and finally through a shoeaperture (14A), the adaptor fastening means shank (12CB) protrudesoutwardly from the shoe lower surface (14C) and is clinched to securelyfasten the adaptor pad (12A) and the shoe (14) together.
 7. Thehoof/shoe attachment device (10) as described in claim 1, wherein atleast one cloth strip is selected from a group consisting of an adaptorcloth retainer upper layer (12BA), an adaptor cloth retainer lower layer(12BB), an upper toe piece (12EA), and a lower toe piece (12EB), the atleast one cloth strip being bondable to an outside perimeter of the hoof(16).
 8. The hoof/shoe attachment device (10) as described in claim 1,wherein the adaptor pad (12A) is constructed from a group of materialsconsisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamides and polyimides. 9.The hoof/shoe attachment device (10) as described in claim 1, wherein aplurality of adaptor cloth retainer upper layers (12BA) and adaptorcloth retainer lower layers (12BB) are embedded in the adaptor pad (12A)in an alternating layer configuration.
 10. The hoof/shoe attachmentdevice (10) as described in claim 1, wherein the adaptor cloth retainerupper layer (12BA) and adaptor cloth retainer lower layer (12BB) areconstructed from a group of materials consisting of fiberglass,petroleum distillates, plastic composites, and plastic.